Habitat and watershed characteristics that limit stream recovery after acid mine drainage treatment

摘要

Treatment of acid mine drainage (AMD) often meets with mixed results. Recovery of chemical quality is not always sufficient for recovery of macroinvertebrates and fish. Mixing zones downstream of treatment systems, episodic acidification and habitat degradation can limit biological recovery. Here, we report on three streams impacted by AMD that have been monitored for chemistry and biology for a decade. Improvement or limited improvement has been seen in the biological quality of Monday Creek and Raccoon Creek, but no change has been seen in Huff Run. This paper suggests mechanisms for these differences and provides recommendations for prioritizing treatment expenditure.